Draft rigging



A ril 20, 1937.

s. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 1937- D. s. BARROWS 2,077,611

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES DRAFT RIGGING Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y.,' assignor'to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application November 11, 1931, Serial No. 574,430

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging and, more particularly, to an arrangement providing for greater movement and cushioning effect for the drawbar on buff than on draft.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide for mounting a doubleended 'or selective travel draft gear between the sills of a railway vehicle and so connecting it to an associated drawbar that a greater travel and cushioning effect is provided for buffingmoyements of the drawbar than for draft movements,

while at the same time provision is made for supporting said drawbar from associated yokeacting means.

Another object of my invention is the provision of draft rigging involving horizontal -yoke or yoke-acting means, the front or outer ends of which are flared in order to clear the head of the associated coupler and have downward ex- 0 tensions adapted to receive means for supporting said coupler to minimize drooping thereof, said coupler supporting means being, if desired, resiliently supported at its ends from the yokeacting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my 1n- 30 vention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of mechanism embodying my invention, some of the elements being shown in horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, some of the parts being shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the sills and striking casting shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views corresponding, respectively, to Figures 1 and 2, but showing a modification.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures '7 and 8 are fragmentary views corresponding, respectively, to Figures 4 and 5, but showing another modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3, there are shown portions of center or draft sills I con- 55 nected at their ends by a striking casting 2 and intermediate their ends by a backstop casting 3. In the present embodiment, I have shown cushioning mechanism 4 mounted between the sills, said mechanism being desirably supported at its ends by carry irons 5 and 6 and involving a housing or casing I slotted, as indicated at 8, to receive a connecting and actuating key 9, and open at front and rear ends to receive friction elements or wedges IIl resiliently urged apart and into engagement with the corresponding friction surfaces on the housing 1 by curved plate springs I I. Normally engaging the outer or unenclosed ends of the friction elements ID are frontand rear followers I2 and I3, respectively. Although I do not wish to be limited to the showing, it will be seen that the cushioning mechanism 4 disclosed is of the-type described and claimed in my applicaiton Serial No. 362,832, filed May 13, 1929.

Disposed between the ends of the sills I is a stem I4 of a coupler or drawbar I5. The coupler illustrated is preferably of the swivel butt type, such as described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,431,717 of October 10, 1922, and involves a swivel block or butt member I6 connected to the stem by pivotal means IT. The stem I4 is, in the present embodiment, operatively connected to the cushioning mechanism 4 by yoke-acting means I! which, in the present embodiment, takes the form of a horizontal yoke comprising transversely spaced elements I8 lying on either side of the stem I4 and connected to said stem by a horizontal key I9 passing through registering slots in the yoke and stem and with its ends received in slots in the cheek plates 2| and/or the sills I of the associated railway vehicle. The

. key-receiving slots in the yoke I! are extended rearwardly of the normal position of the key to allow rearward movement of the coupler with respect to said yoke upon the application of buliing forces, as it will be seen that the rear end of the yoke normally abuts and is stopped by the backstop 3.

In order to differentially actuate the selective travel gear orcushioning mechanism 4, the key 9 which extends through the housing '1 thereof has its ends: received in slots 22 in cheek plates 23 and/or sills l of the car, said slots being rearwardly elongated like the slots 20 in the cheek plates 2| so as to allow rearward movement of the housing I with respect to saidsills upon the application of buffing forces to the coupler so that the mechanism at both ends of the gear 4 is actuated on buff, while only the mechanism in the rear end of the housing I is V actuated on draft, as the front end of the slot 22 functions as front stop means for the key 9, and thereby prevents actuation of the mechanism in the front end of the housing 1 on the application of draft forces.

The front ends of the yoke elements 18 are preferably flared and extended diagonally downwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 24, where, at points below the coupler stem I4, they are provided with slots 25 normally receiving a key 26 which is adapted to underlie and support the coupler or drawbar l5 and prevent the head or outer end thereof from drooping. This effect is efficiently produced on account of the yoke I! being extended rearwardly and supported by the keys l9 and 9.

In order to prevent the front follower l2 from falling or floating around upon forward movement of the coupler l5, the striking casting 2 is desirably extended rearwardly to provide an upper front stop for a front follower engaging element 21 and for a similar reason the carry iron 5 is provided with a plate or other device 23 connected thereto as by means of rivets 29 and adapted to be engaged by the lower portion of the front follower 12 to keep the same in place when the coupler l5 separates therefrom on draft.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that under the action of draft forces, the housing 1 is stopped from forward movement by the key 9, and the rear mechanism therein is stressed by the coupler l5 pulling the' yoke l1 forwardly through the key l9 and actuating the rear friction elements ID by pushing them into the housing 1 against the pressure of the springs ll through the medium of the rear follower l3, the mechanism in the front end of the housing 1 being unaffected.

Under the action of bufiing forces, the coupler stem l4, through the swivel block I6, acts directly on the front follower l2, pushing the front elements In into the housing 1, and at the same time causing the housing to move rearwardly over the rear friction elements II] which are stopped by the rear follower l3, rear end of the yoke H, and backstop 3, thereby resulting in increased travel and cushioning effect on buff as compared to draft.

Inasmuch as the yoke moves with the coupler on draft, there is no longitudinal sliding of the coupler stem on the key 26 except when the coupler moves rearwardly or inwardly under the action of buffing forces. It will also be seen that the coupler supporting key does not move inwardly from normal position, but does move outwardly with the coupler an amount sufficient to effect compression of the mechanism in the rear end of the housing 1.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a construction is there disclosed which corresponds substantially to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3, except that the yoke Il which is connected to the coupler stem M by a key I9 for actuating the associated cushioning mechanism 4 has the front or outer ends of its elements I8 extended diagonally outward and downward, as indicated at 24 and formed with pockets 29 receiving resilient means 30 serving to support the ends of the key 26 which are received in relatively enlarged slots 25 so that said key 26 is urged into supporting engagement with the couper stem M to thereby resiliently support the same.

The resilient means 30, in the present embodiment, is shown as comprising a coil or helical spring 3|, preferably held under a predetermined initial compression, to form a resilient supporting device of a desired height, by means of upper and lower spring caps 32 and 33 held in adjusted relationship by a bolt 34 and associated nut 35. The bolts and nuts are preferably adjusted so that the caps 32 and 33 hold the associated springs compressed to a height determined by the depth of the pockets 29, so that the key 26 can be easily inserted, the initial compression of the springs being preferably such that there is always available a sufficient amount of force to carry the weight of the coupler and prevent downward movement from minor impulses. It will, therefore, be seen that I can provide for the resilient support of the coupler at a predetermined desired elevation, while at the same time allowing for downward as well as upward movement therefrom upon the application of corresponding draft or buffing forces.

Referring now to the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, a construction is there disclosed in which the yoke means li which serves for operatively connecting the coupler stem W to the double-ended cushioning mechanism 4*, is formed as transversely spaced draft links 18*. The front ends of said links are extended, as indicated at 24 and provided with slots 25 receiving a coupler stem supporting key 26 which key, if desired, may be resiliently supported, as shown in Figure 6. The resilient means for supporting the coupler stem or drawbar l4 if used, is desirably under a predetermined initial compression in order that the coupler key can be easily inserted, and so that there shall always be available sufiicient spring capacity to carry the weight of the coupler and prevent downward movement from minor impulses.

In the present embodiment, the yoke-acting means or links I! move forwardly with the coupler an amount sufficient to actuate the front friction elements of the gear 4 on draft, said elements being stopped against the front follower lZ disposed in engagement with front stop lugs 35 conveniently formed as part of the front cheek plates 25 Under the action of buffing forces, the links I8 move rearwardly with the coupler, but not to as great an extent as said coupler, because the coupler moves an amount sufficient to actuate the friction elements Ill in both ends of the housing 7 while the yoke only moves an amount corresponding with the movement of the housing l connection with the embodiments of Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, the same may correspond with the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and that the terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention in the use of such of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described.

I claim:-

1. As an article of manufacture, a yoke device for railway draft rigging comprising spaced side portions of substantially uniform thickness, the front portions of which diverge bodily from each other and extend diagonally forward and downward for connection with means for supporting an associated drawbar, said front portions being Except as specifically described in formed with upwardly opening pockets adapted to receive springs for resiliently holding said drawbar-supporting means.

2. As an article of manufacture, a link for railway draft rigging slotted at one end for receiving a draft gear actuating key, and slotted adjacent its other end for receiving a drawbar connecting key, the portion adjacent said last-mentioned end being extended diagonally forward and downward, and bent bodily sideways, to clear the head of an associated coupler, said extension being slotted to receive a coupler supporting key and formed with a pocket beneath said slot for receiving a key-supporting spring.

3. Yoke-acting means comprising side members slotted for receiving means for connection with an associated drawbar, said side members being extended forwardly and downwardly and formed with slots and upwardly opening pockets therebeneath adjacent their front ends, springs mounted in said pockets, and a drawbar supporting member extending through said slots and resiliently supported by means of said springs.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, carrier means secured to said sills and adapted to underlie the front end of the housing of an associated draft gear for the support thereof, and means supported by said carrier means and forming lower front stop means for the front follower of said gear.

5. As an article of manufacture, a link for railway draft rigging, said link having a slot for receiving means for connection with an associated drawbar and extended longitudinally and diagonally beyond said slot and formed with another slot adjacent its end, and a pocket normally opening upward and disposed beneath said last-mentioned slot, said pocket being formed to receive a spring for resiliently holding a drawbar-supporting member.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a draft gear disposed between said sills and comprising a housing with friction elements received therein, a front follower engaging the outer ends of said friction elements, carrier means secured to said sills and underlying said follower and the front end of said housing for the support thereof, and means secured to the forward portion of said carrier means and normally engaged by'the front face of said follower to form front stop means therefor.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, yoke-acting means normally connected to said coupler by a key, said means being extended diagonally forward and downward of the key connection while bodily diverging with respect to each other, the lower forward portions of said means being slotted, a key received in said slotted portions and normally underlying the stem of the coupler for the support thereof, resilient means disposed laterally outward of said lower forward portions and acting between the same and the last-mentioned key, and lateral extensions on said yoke-acting means forming upper key abutments directly above said resilient means.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

